the next thing they need to do with the TV deals is push the BBC to show the Super League Show nationwide in a regular time slot (Sunday night at 11pm after MOTD2 seemed to work for the World Cup Highlights) we also need to get the BBC to return to showing 2 Challenge Cup games per round.

China national tv wouldn't put up with Eddie and stevos commentary!

Offer the challenge cup to Itv, get more cash and more games on, with itv2,3,4 etc

I hope not but you can bet your bottom super league clubs dollar they will.

Would it be Lugby Reague, then?

That'd be a fantastic move for RL. ITV4 already show Europa League and Cycling so having some RL would help it. Plus there's naff all on there on a Saturday/Sunday afternoon too

Agreed.
This TV deal, following on from the RLWC and introduction of the 2x12; 3x8 structure is fantastic news for the game here.

And new sponsorship.

Just don't call it a WC legacy.

Premier Sports have pulled out of covering the Championship in 2014.

Premier Sports were paying how much?

With Superleague games on a Thursday it's no great loss to the general armchair RL fan.

Personally until the CC is compressed or there is some shortened version of RL, such as a 9's for FTA to cover. The problems will remain the same regardless of where the CC is shown.

It's too spread out, it has no buying from people outside of RL , people can't associate with a club as they may not see them from round to round.

FTA needs an element of concentration, similar to Wimbledon, the 6 nations etc.

A short but intense period of coverage to sell the larger game.

The current format is too wide spread.

Interestingly, regarding the CC, surely the final cant be held at the end if August with it been crunch time for the split

Unless they put the weekend of the challenge cup final between the split, to buy themselves some time figuring out fixtures?

Is it the more than half a billion pounds they have invested in Rugby League that upsets you?

Loss of Championship coverage doesn't bother me in the slightest. I only subscribe to Premier Sports for the NRL and I've got it at a cost of just £12 in total for the next 6 months. Premier Sports claim they'll now be looking to add a lot more NRL content to their schedules instead which is great news.

spot on!



Have to say, as much as I am happy to criticise Big Nigel and the gang, this is a bloody good bit of business by the RFL.

Neil Hudgell on Twitter... [i"Cautious optimism over tv deal. 8 years is a long time. Could have done with more than 2 hours to consider the detail"[/i #indecenthaste?

I need an eye test.

This made me smile!



Re Premier Sports, they paid Championship clubs £750 a year. Doubt that covered the lost earnings caused by playing big games at unsociable times.

eh? £750, not £750k? or even £75k?

No.
The clubs have wasted it though, seeing a considerable amount went overseas never to return,but that is not Sky's fault.
I see Sky using RL as a filler which can be messed about at a whim. Even the sports news gives RL little credence and always follows the inferior code.
Sorry but I can't wear rose tinted spectacles all the time.

£750.00 only paid to each club, as a sort of compensation. I doubt they will be losing any sleep tonight.

A fabulous deal.

It's amazing to see everyone buying into this deal, even those who would be at each others throats normally.

Terrible deal. £62 million a season and not even linked to inflation, so the deal gets worse every year. To put it into perspective Man Utd are about to sign a kit deal for £70 million a season! RFL have no balls. We are just coming out of a deep recession where products and services are under valued. Why not sign the best short term deal with whichever broadcaster offers the biggest deal and then go for a long term deal when the economy is on back on its feet.

Lol.

Looks like I spoke too soon.